title: Use of technology to increase access to mental health services in a rural Texas community.
abstract: The Leon County Health Resource Commission sought to increase access to mental health services for their rural community. The commission formed a network of partners who collaborated to increase free transportation to mental health services outside the community and developed a telehealth-based counseling program through a counseling psychology training program. Learning opportunities emerged during the development and implementation of these activities for both the students and the community in how to successfully utilize and sustain this service. This article describes the telehealth counseling model, presents lessons learned in the process, and presents recommendations for others interested in utilizing similar strategies.
authors.affiliation: Center for Community Health Development, Texas A&M Health Science Center, School of Rural Public Health, College Station, TX 77843, USA. mwendel@tamu.edu
authors.forename: Monica L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Wendel
authors.forename: Daniel F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Brossart
authors.forename: Timothy R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: Carly
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCord
authors.forename: Manuel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Diaz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017216:Telemedicine; D013781:Texas; D055815:Young Adult